Small electric scales can be found in a great number of modern homes, and are not necessarily being used in the way that most people may first guess. Today people are using scales for more than tracking how much they weigh. Although bathroom scales that measure in pounds are still the most common household scale, many people are also using small electric scales in the kitchen as part of their daily food preparation routine. These scales, which are sometimes referred to as dietary scales, measure in either grams or ounces, although many newer scales have a built in conversion function. Dietary scales are a must-have tool for people who want to know exactly how much food they are preparing or consuming in the home.

But the small electric scale is not only used in the kitchen. It is used in the home office as well. They are also frequently used by people who own their own small businesses. Scales are an almost unavoidable part of the process of sending mail and packages. If you’re mailing it, then chances are that it’s going to be weighed at least once before it reaches its destination. Many business owners and home workers are streamlining the process of sending mail by weighing it themselves in their offices. This way they can either immediately affix the appropriate amount of postage, or they can find out how much it will cost them to send the mail and plan accordingly.

The small electric scale is also often used by businesses for which consistency in product portion size is important. For example, an entrepreneur who makes, packages, and sells her own line of bath products might use a scale to ensure that each bar of soap that she sells is of an acceptable and somewhat uniform size. In weighing her product before she sends it out, this businesswoman is making sure that neither she nor her customer is getting cheated. Her scale will help her build her product’s reputation.

Small electric scales which are being used by businesses and in the home are well-suited for their respective uses when properly calibrated; however, unlike some other small scales, they are not known for their extreme accuracy. Ultra precision scales are used in laboratories and in other settings where accuracy in measurement is of the utmost importance. These types of scales, which can be quite expensive, are made using some of the very latest technology in scale manufacturing. They are very sensitive and can give readings that are accurate down to mere parts of the increments that other small scales use.

But even the most accurate weight results are of little use if they cannot be easily acquired by the operator of the industrial scale. Even the simplest scales provide some sort of weight readout. Generally this consists of a numeric display that will give a digital weight result. Often, there will be a number of small indicators to note the weight unit that is being reported, along with other information pertaining to net or gross status, and stability notification. More sophisticated scales will use a graphics Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) to make this information easier to see. The weight unit can be clearly spelled out. The numeric weight value can be shown in large, block digits. In both of these cases, a labeled keyboard is provided to the user to enter the desired mode of operation, and to enter tare values and other numeric information.

The most sophisticated and easy to use scales, such as those offered by Arlyn Scales, provide a large, color, touch panel interface. Not only can the scale information be clearly shown in a color coded format, but the screen also acts as a keyboard. Only the required input keys are shown for the current mode of the scale, reducing complexity and confusion.

Many times, though, the weight data may need to be recorded. This can be done by providing the scale with an industry standard serial communication port, such as RS-232. This can directly connect to an appropriate printer to directly print the weight. Or, a computer may be provided with the communication port to input the data into a database. The more modern Universal Serial Bus (USB) may also be used for computer communication.

The most flexible method for industrial communication has evolved to take advantage of the omnipresent Internet. This requires the industrial scale to provide an Ethernet port with an assigned address, known as an IP address. With the appropriate software, the weight data from the scale can be seen by any computer on the Local Area Network (LAN). Some special software, such as that available from Arlyn Scales, will also provide this data to any computer with Internet access, provided the user has the appropriate security information. This is particularly appropriate for using platform scales to monitor the weight of drums or tanks, or for cylinder scales that may contain liquids or gasses that are used in various industrial processes.

Often, it is important to know the weight of the material on the pallet. A floor scale is ideal for this purpose. The most standard size for this type of device is 48” x 48”, but they are also available in smaller sizes and much larger sizes. Capacities generally range from about 2500 lb all the way up to 20,0000 lb. Digital indicators are provided to display the weight on the platform. Communication capability is often provided to direct weight data to computer systems.

Steel or stainless steel is generally used for the scale platform. Four strain gage load cells are attached to the base of the floor scale. While many load cells are manufactured from aluminum, or nickel plated steel, it is best to use heat conditioned stainless steel. These offer higher levels of strength, ruggedness and reliability. They are also less subject to corrosion from moisture or direct exposure to water

The most common type of device used for this purpose is a platform scale. They are available in a wide variety of sizes, ranging from as small as 20” x 27” up to sizes of 48” x 48”. Weight capacities are usually up to 1000 lb. It is useful for the platform to have a very low profile. This makes it much easier to place product onto or remove product from the platform.

A platforms scale should be very rugged, so that it can be used in any industrial environment. Ideally, the component that actually converts weight into an electronic signal, the load cell, should be manufactured from stainless steel. This provides both ruggedness and long, trouble free life.